Las Manitas postscript

Funny story: The third time I had breakfast at Las Manitas, on Sunday, a woman from New Jersey sat down at the counter next to me and immediately ordered a club soda with lemon. Las Manitas is a Mexican food joint that doesn't even pretend to cater to the dietary habits of effete East Coasters, and the poor waitress didn't quite understand what this woman wanted. She ended up with an organic soda. (The same woman sat next to me later that day on the flight from Austin to Dallas. She declined a beverage when the drinks cart rolled by.)

The incident reminded me of the first year I went to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, in 2001. One night, we ventured out to see the Rebirth Brass Band at Kermit Ruffins' Jazz & Blues Club, which was located in a rougher neighborhood than we were used to. We got there way too early, and had a lot of time to kill before the band went on. Everyone ordered a beer except my friend Josh, who got a smirk from the bartender when he asked for a gin and tonic.

There are times when it's good to stand out. But there are other times when it's probably better to do as the Romans do.